The Arizona sentinel., 1887-02-26
FOUR MoNSTRoSITIEs.
A Veteran Pittsburgh Physiclan's Aim ost
 Incredible Discoveries.

Four abnormal specimens of deform- ity in the human race having come un- der my observation at different times ] thought few "reminiscences of each of them might be interesting to the gen. eral reader, and more especially to the naturalist and biologist Many of the citizens of Pittsburgh yet living will recollect the visit to this city some forty years ago of the ''Siamese Twins, :" born in Siam, in Asia. They were at that time nearly twenty years of age and had been united at birth by firm ligamentous band about four inches broad and five4inches long, passing from the chest of one to that of the other in front, uniting the two insepar- ably together, but permitting free motion and use of the limbs and organs of each, which appeared to act simultaneously and in- simultaneously, as if governed by one will and one mind. saw them hop ping into carriage at the corner of Penn avenue and Sixth street, each with whip in his hand, with perfect ease and facility, to take a drive through the city. They seemed to pos sess an average amount of intelligence and wherever they went were the ob- feet of much interest and curiosity. They did few years since in the United States.
 Shortly after commencing the practice of medicine in Pittsburgh was called to a case which in many respects resembled that of the Siamese twins, but different in others. In this case twine sisters were born, of ordinary size and healthy appearance, weighing together from ten to twelve pounds, but they were dead born. The ligamentous band, as in the Siamese case, was wanting. As rep resented in the drawing, taken at the time by competent artist, there were two chests, two heads, with two eyes, two ears each and two shoulders and arms, and the lower eXtremities were well developed and of natural form. But the band of union was to all ap- pearances concealed under the in- teguments covering the upper part of the stomach and epigastric region, and somehow lower than in the case of the Siamese twins, thus wrapping the two bodies in one common sack or cavity, designed to contain the stomach, liver and other important organs of single individual.
 This hypothesis, however would only be confirmed or disproved by careful examination with the dissecting knife, which the father indignantly refused to permit. Knowing that the parents of the children belonged to the Catholic Church, 1 called upon the venerable and worthy Father Mcclure, who at the time presided oyer the church in this region, and requested his aid and advice. He promptly acceded to my request, and immediately wrote to the father and advised him to comply with my wishes. When the note was opened and read his anger rose to a still higher pitch, and he angrily repeated that no doctor and no dissecting knife should touch those children. After some per suasion permission was given that an artist might take sketch of them, the father being present
 A third malformation was born ot colored parents in one of the Southern States, shortly after the visit of the to1 ,,-,fh the travelling show of one of those be- nevolent wonder vendors who depend on the curiosity of the public to in- crease their gains. This malformation was twin sisters, united something after the fashion of the last-described. They lived to mature age, and had the ap- pearance of reasonably good health, and seemed to enjoy the kind of life in which they were engaged. They were lusty and heavy, appeared to have but little power of locomotion and were sell dom off their large chair, which they generally occupied.
 The manager of this travelling show did not seem disposed to give much in- formation in regard to the twins, and was unable to learn much of the man. ner of union.
 Not long after my attendance on the second case described l witnessed a ease of monstrosity, born also in Pitts burgh-one still more remarkable than those above described. In fact, have never heard or read of one like it. It was the case of healthy-looking boy, who, instead of the two beaming eyes that so beautifully adorn the human face, had only one enormous eye, and that located in the center of his fore head, without an eyelid to protect it. The disgusting effect produced on the attending nurse when she first cast eyes on him aptly suggested to her mind the horrid badge of deformiy he would have been doomed to carry with him through life. Dropping on her knees with uplifted hands, she ex- claimed: Thank Heaven, he is deadr' -PihSburgh Commercial.